SNOW!!!!!

Mullet Head Carves a Pumpkin

Attention Daddy's everywhere if you are going to cut your daughters hair DO NOT CUT IT ABOVE HER EAR.....IT WILL RESULT IN A MULLET

Are you kidding me?

I took my two year old to the store to get a Halloween costume a full 2 and a half weeks before the actual day and was surprised to find that the costumes were marked way down (yay for me, the selection was paltry (boo for me) and the reasoning behind this was to put out Christmas stuff. Can we please get through one holiday before getting the next one crammed down my throat?

How we are dealing with the economy

Well that title should really be how "I" am dealing with it since my hubby apparently knows of a never ending money tree that he has not decided to share with me. Last week after spending $200 at Wal-Mart (that included $40 worth of fall clothes for Em) we took out $20 from the ATM and gave each of us $10. Well lo and behold at the end of the week I still had $4, he had none and had spent $35 in two days by using the debit card. Now my husband didn't come from a family made of money so I don't quite know where he gets this idea that he can just spend on a whim and not think of the repurcussions (namely me when he gets home). I have created for him what I call my reality check budget that he is going to have to adhere to especially with a new baby on the way, me not working for 3 months, and increased daycare expense. When I told him that it is possible to go 5 days on ten dollars and have money left over he looked at me like he though I had lost my mind. So I'm writing this to show him how I did it.

Starting with:
Breakfast. Since I take Em to daycare everyday at 6:30 it leaves little time to eat breakfast so I've started taking instant flavored oatmeal to work with me.

Lunch:
I bring my lunch everyday. Most of the time I bring whatever leftovers we had for dinner the night before. That way I get to eat and I never really waste anything by losing it in the fridge. We also don't buy food storage containers. What we do is when we order chinese food (about once a month and that counts as dining out for us but it's amazing what $20 will get you at the Chinese place) we keep the containers that they send the food in. They're nice containers and can take a few rolls through the dishwasher.





Drinks:
I buy a one liter bottle of water every 2-3 weeks and just keep refilling it with either tap water or filtered water that came from the tap. I'm pregnant so not having coffee is really not a problem.

In my household all loose change is put into various piggy banks throughout the house and then put into a savings account once a month. It's not the world's best savings program but it works for us.

How are you pinching pennies?

Catch up time

We've had a busy last month and a half or so around Casa De Rydell. There was the 2nd annual Rydell/Louiselle bash in Vermont for Labor Day weekend, then the fun of welcoming in Fall which always includes a trip to the Apple Farm in Poughquag.











And my hubby and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary. Hard to believe it's been 3 years. We already have one child with another due shortly. Should be a great year for memories.



And of course there was the all important move from a crib to a big girl bed.





Here's hoping that there's some time to just sit back and enjoy the leaves falling before the onslaught of the holidays is upon us.

Farewell to Summer

It's hard to believe that summer has come and gone so quickly. I remember complaining in March that all it was doing was raining and how I couldn't wait for the summer and the pool and the camping trips to start. And now it's over. Come and gone just like that. I for some reason always thought summers would last a little longer when I got older since I'd still have to go to work but they just seem to go by faster. So many things have happened this summer. We found out we're having a son in January, we learned that Emily is no longer a baby and on her way to becoming a big girl, and we also learned how rewarding it is to have a child no longer in diapers. We discovered how much Emily likes to kill ants (no idea why), how fearless she is when it comes to water, and in general how much of a good kid she is. So now here we are at another autumn and can't wait to find out how much we learn and discover this season.

VICTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!

My 27 month old is POTTY TRAINED!!!! Took her two weeks and the only issues we have is maybe a small accident right before she wakes up in the morning. Now she gets to go on a special shopping trip with mommy to pick out sheets for her new Big Girl bed.

Summer lovin'

Where has the summer of 2008 gone? I realize time goes by much faster when you are an adult but you've got to be kidding me. It seems like just yesterday we were complaning of the weather and when it was going to be nice enough to go swimming and now here we are already almost at the end of August. I think my brother in law put it best when he said "When you're a kid there's all kinds of great things to do in the summer and when you're an adult you get to go to work when it's hot".

Heart attacks a-comin'

This is my two year old daughter being thrown about three feet in the air before plunging into the pool. See that complete and utter expression of joy on her face? My face was the complete opposite as I tried to convince myself that my 2 year old wasn't trying to give me a heart attack with her fearlessness. I hope I'm right.

Is it just my kid that does this???

Yep that's my daughter wearing my swimsuit and my crocs. Can't wait to show this off at her graduation

Menu Planning

With being a working mom and not getting home until almost 5:30 most nights, I love the idea of menu planning. Unfortunately I am not the world's greatest cook and in actuality only cook out of the necessity to eat. However, I have come to love the the web and the blogging world for sharing their menu plans, I just have a itty bitty teensy weensy complaint.......most of the blogs that I've found that do menu plans are stay at home moms. Not that there is anything wrong with it, believe me I would LOVE to be a SAHM, I just wonder if there are any parents or even just people who like me work during the day and want to eat at a relatively decent time that might have menus that can be made in a Crock-Pot? Something that I can put in in the morning when we're leaving and have it cooked when I come home. Anyone have any suggestions?

PS. Just a side note being the so not culinary person that I am, I would also need the recipe.....thanks

Where do you find the time to blog?

I swear I think I need to clone myself like in that Michael Keaton movie "Multiplicity". I would be so much more efficient. I wanted to have a blog to be able to keep friends/family and some random strangers up to date on the happenings of our life but am finding that I don't really have all that much time to dedicate to blogging. Believe me I wish I did. But between work/church/daycare/wanting to play with my kid/making dinner/doing dishes/doing and actually folding the laundry, I'm lucky I get to watch the news. And I think one of my issues for not finding a time niche (I type 110/wpm it's not like it takes me long to type something out) is really that after spending all day long in front of a computer at work when I get home that's the last thing I want to do. It's my same issue with the phone. I spend a majority of my day at work on the phone so that when it rings when I come home I almost never ever answer it. Unless it's a family member or the bff because they usually only call when there's an emergency. Does anyone else have this issue? Or is it just me?

Why I think my kid is smarter than the average two year old

My daughter is 2. She just turned 2 in April and for the longest time has loved watching the PBS show Arthur. Granted I think most of it is over her head since it's geared for a kindergartner or higher grade level but she enjoys it and learns some cool stuff too. Case in point on Tuesday night I was making her dinner of Macaroni and Cheese (which she LOVES) and she says to me "I hate macaroni and cheese" I reply no you don't and please don't say hate, she shoots back "No mommy binky hates it" and I must have looked at her with my what are you talking about look because she rolls her eyes puts her hands on her hips and says "Binky on Arthur". And I wanted to V8 slap my own head because she was right. A week prior we had watched an episode where Binky explicably says "I hate macaroni and cheese".
My kid is smarter than a two year old. Sometimes I think she's smarter than her mother.

Ultrasounds rock!!!!

The fact that I can see my new baby forming at 9 weeks and hear the heartbeat amazes me. What kind of person can say that this is not a living creature at this point in time? So excited to be welcoming a new member to our family in January

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Ok so it's been a month since I blogged and it was all about how much I love food that's not very good for you. But I now have a reason as to why I was craving all that stuff..........I"M PREGNANT!! Again, with number two. My hubby and I are overjoyed and peanut appears to be excited as well although she keeps telling me it's a boy. Not only are we prego but last night we traded in my Saturn (small sniffle---it was the first car I ever bought) and got a Hyundai Elantra. With the impending arrival of another child we finally bit the bullet and decided that we needed two reliable cars. And the Elantra was ranked in the top 10 safest vehicles.

Healthy Eating Challenge

I love fast food. I love greasy diner food. I love anything that's fried. Unfortunately all the stuff that I love is going directly to my hips and that I don't love. So I am starting my healthy eating challenge today. I specifically didn't start it on Monday since what's the fun in that plus this way it will give me the 60 days to see if I can do my own challenge. I've done this a few times before, the first time was with a great friend of mine who also happened to be my roommate we had a bet with Dixie Chicks concert tickets on the line (we were always going to go it was just a matter of at who's expense) and that was I couldn't have fried/fast food and she couldn't have rice, we wound up breaking even but it changed my eating habits for quite some time. So I've decided to do that again and this time have come up with a spa day as a reward if I stick to my own challenge. Wish me luck, I'm going to need it.

$48.57 ARE YOU CRAZY?!?!?!?!?!?

$48.57. That's what I paid for 3/4 of a tank of gas yesterday. Yep that's right it wasn't even a full tank. I don't have some massive SUV or truck or anything. I have a small SUV a Mazda Tribute. But when gas prices in upstate New York are $3.79/gallon that's what you pay for gas. It's ridiculous. Gas prices in California are $3.95, in Hawaii they are $3.88, in NYC they are $3.80, in Minnesota they are $3.44 why am I paying almost the equivelant of what people are paying in CA and HI when they make so much more out there? Because Dutchess County has a major gas tax. I'm so glad I'm getting a stimulus check so I can pay for more gas so I can go to work and barely afford to pay my bills.

Today is a day that I love being a Mom even more than I thought possible

I was given the greatest compliment that I think a parent can get. I took my two year old to Wendy's for lunch, and since she insists she's a big girl (really what two year old doesn't?) she sat on the chair next to me at the table and ate her lunch. An elderly woman was leaving (about mid to late sixties) and told me what a refreshing sight it was to see such a well behaved child and that it has been a long time since she has seem such a well behaved child in a restaurant. I'm absolutely over the moon, this made my week.

How time flies

I can't believe that my little princess turned two years old on Thursday. It's weird when you become a parent that you feel as though your children have always been a part of you and you don't really remember what life was like before you had them. And then you think of all that they're going to do when they are older and in an instant they are another year older. One thing that I did with Emily that I hope to be able to do with my future children was to take a picture of her on the 17th of each month to show her age progression.....it's pretty cool, I hope you enjoy seeing it as much as I enjoyed taking it.

Friday, April 4, 2008

I fell off my wagon.......

and bruised not only my butt but mainly my ego. For those of you that don't know for about the last year and half or so I've been really focused on losing my baby weight and getting in shape and if I do say so myself (and I do) I did a phenomenal job. However the last few weeks have been majorally stressful for me and I hate to even admit it but I've gone the route of quick, easy drive-thru eating. Which is never good. And so it has enhanced my waistline instead of minimizing it sadly enough. But I'm getting right back on by making a menu plan for the week. That way I will already have an idea of what to make for dinner and not go the easy route of I'm too tired to cook so I'll get a pizza. Here we go, goal is to lose 15 pounds by June 1. Wish me luck (I'm going to need it........and maybe a cookie)

Friday, March 28, 2008

Easter

Since I'm so not on time with posting I figured since I had a few moments today I'd play catch up with some pics and latest Rydell happenings.
Easter this year was really great since peanut finally seemed to be grasping the whole concept of it. Case in point: I had decided against taking her to see the Easter bunny for the sole fact that she would not go near Santa and I wasn't so sure how she'd react to a six foot tall Rabbit, so we're on our way to the mall last Friday (Good Friday of all days) and she and I are talking in the car, since she and I are talking I've got the radio on but very low volume which is why I was surprised when there was an announcement to see the Easter bunny that peanut replied "I go see bunny". This is my same little girl who when she woke up on Easter morning asked "bunny here?" Mind you my little one is going to be 2 in April but it amazes me what children retain. She was fairly good during Easter service which amazed me, then it was off to Casa de Rydell for the Easter Egg hunt which she didn't seem to get the concept. All the eggs were filled with change since the kids get enough junk in their baskets and since she's the youngest by 4 years she got about 5 minutes by herself, she would pick the egg up, shake it, dance with the jangling change and then throw it away!!!



She had an amazing time coloring eggs with her cousins. Of course she dyes them by throwing the egg into the dye and then trying to drinke the dye....eeeks!
But all in all she had a good Easter and I think she looked adorable.






Oh yeah and Easter baskets are more fun after you pull all the grass out

Sushi Dinner

My husband is a Culinary trained chef so tonight he finally put those skills to good use. We both LOVE sushi but don't like the cost of having it out, so he decided to make it and this was the result:

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Ew, gross

That's what my two year old said to me this morning after she had vomited her dinner of spaghetti-o's all over her bed. While her daddy took her to the bathroom (puke-free I might add). I cleaned up the mess that was all over her bed and her blankies and her "babies". That was the hard part having to wash her "babies" and still trying to get her to go to sleep. Yeah that wasn't gonna happen. She invaded my sleeping area. And this means that Daddy gets plenty of room and peanut gets plenty of room but then there's none left for Mommy who took a hard right punch from the peanut. Alas, Pukeapalooza 2008 has begun and I unfortunately have front row tickets. Anyone care to join me in the Mosh Pit???

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

A big cry-baby

This is what I've determined my hubby is. Now don't get me wrong i love him with all my heart I just want him to act his age or any age that's preferably over 25.

Friday, February 22, 2008

Snow day

I use to think that snow days were great. No school, all that fresh snow to go sledding in, make snowmen and snow angels, but somehow that hasn't carried through into my adult life. Maybe it's because I know that if I take a snow day I also have to give up one of my precious vacation days or maybe it's because when I go to work it's almost like a little break from my life. I don't have to worry about cooking, cleaning, laundry or even that adorable 2 year old who is hanging onto my leg. It's almost a sort of escape, to escape just for 8 hours to a place where I'm not the one in charge, I'm not the wife or the mother or the CEO of my family. Someone else is in charge and it's kind of nice. Don't get me wrong I love my life and my family but sometimes I think that escape is needed. If I could go back in time and not change one thing that has happened so as not to take away all that God has blessed me with, I think I'd go back to a snow day.

Friday, February 15, 2008

NIU

It's always sad and tragic to hear of a school shooting but it hits a little closer to home when you actually attended the school in the news. Now I haven't been an NIU student in many years but that doesn't stop the loyalty to the mighty Huskies. It's scary to think someone was able to walk into a lecture hall one I might have attended a class in and open fire for no apparent reason. At the same time it scares me how violent the youth of America are or are becoming in this day and age and makes me want to protect my children at all costs and never let them out of my sight. I know this isn't possible.......but how can you have so much anger and rage that you just take innocent people's lives? This is all so reminiscent of Columbine almost 10 years ago, the Jonesboro school shootings, all the miscellaneous shootings that are still happening, Virginia Tech that claimed 32 lives, a local high school in NY (seriously I drive past the school on a daily basis) where 3 students were planning an attack for the 11th anniversary of Columbine and had amassed a huge cache of firearms that were kept in their houses, and now NIU. When is all this madness going to stop? God bless NIUand my thoughts and prayers go out to them

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Becoming Frugal

My husband told me the other day that I was the most frugal 28 year old he had ever known. And I think I have my Dad to thank for this. My dad didn't find his "dream" job until he was 30 and had two kids. My dad just retired at age 55 with a significant amount in savings and retirement income and this is after going through a nasty divorce, buying a new house, helping all three kids with college expenses (and anything else we needed) paying child support until just 2 years ago and he was still able to retire at age 55. That I find remarkable and I think it's because my dad saved every penny he could find. Not that my dad is cheap, quite the contrary, he's frugal. He shops around for the best deal instead of buying on impulse, he goes to garage sales, goes to thrift stores, and keeps stuff until it just doesn't work anymore. Just two years ago did he buy a new television because the one he had which was older than I am broke and due to the ancientness of it the manufacturer no longer repairs them because it's not worth the money. I'm trying to get my husband to understand this as we work our way towards owning a house that sometimes you need to give up your little wants to achieve your big wants. I have us on a strict budget right now but it all goes up in smoke (literally) when he's at least a pack a day smoker if not more. That's at least $35 a week down the drain and for what? Lung disease? A nasty smell? Potential cancer? My goal is to have enough money for a down payment by October or at least enough for a rent to own option. So we eat at home instead of ordering pizza or chinese or going through a drive-thru, and are attempting to only go grocery shopping either once a month and spending about $300 or twice a month spending $150 each time. To do this I clip coupons and when there is a staple that is on sale I buy more of it (like mayonnaise, I use mayo in a lot of my recipes and when it goes on sale I stock up on it. Same with crushed tomatoes). Here's to a down payment in October!!!!! Start scrimping and saving all pennies we can find!!

Saturday, February 9, 2008

I grew up

This just became apparent to me the other day. I am a grown up. An adult. A mother. A wife. And I just realized this the other day. The other day when my dad sent me an email and asked what I wanted for my birthday. So I told him I had to think about it and I would get back to him. I thought and thought and thought. And couldn't come up with one single thing that I wanted. I could think up stuff that I could get for Emily, or the hubby, or the house but nothing for me. And that's when I realized, I've grown up, when other people come before me, when I think about what my daughter, husband, or house could need before I can think of something that I want for my birthday. I'm not a little kid anymore or a teen ager or even a young adult, I'm almost 29, I've become a full fledged adult with responsibilities that don't just affect me anymore. And I'm okay with it, happy even.

Thursday, January 31, 2008

New Diet Fad

I have come up with a way to lose weight guaranteed*

For those of you that aren't so hot on spicy food just eat Weight Watchers Smart Ones Enchiladas Suiza for EVERY meal. I love spicy food and this is just a little too hot for my liking. Let's put it this way I'm eating one right now and am on my 4 glass of water while eating it. It's just about setting my tongue on fire.





* these are the personal opinions of me and are in no way based on fact or research. Plus anyone that thinks there is a diet that is guaranteed to make you lose weight is out of their mind unless their particular diet of choice includes healthy eating and exercise.

103, 103, 103

This was my daughters body temperature last night right after she puked up her stomachs contents all over both her and I. Then I come to find out that another little girl was brought to daycare with her parents knowing full well she had a stomach virus. In turn this drastically changed my plans of hanging out skiing this weekend with family and now we are staying home and doing nothing. If your kid is sick DON'T bring them to daycare. Especially a daycare that also has a 6 months old and a 10 month old baby not to mention the 4 one and a half year olds.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Ye of little faith.....

And I say this to all the men in my husbands family. Remember back in September when you said Eli couldn't lead his team to kindergarten? When you said Coughlin was going to have a heart attack on the side of the field? Remember when you said the "that's it game's over" with an entire quarter still left? Well remember how much you loathed watching them and I had to sit through it, only to see them work their way to the Superbowl which means I still have to watch one more football game with you yelling at the television from NY thinking they can hear you in Scottsdale. Like I've said to all of you, have some faith in your teams.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Oh happy day......

I have a new showerhead. To fully understand my enthusiasm in this new wonderful $29.99 gadget of mine, you need to understand what I have been showering under for the past two years. I don't even think what I've had can be defined as a showerhead. It was like a spray nozzle. That was always on the setting that would knock the smile right off of your face when your brother nailed you with it.





I have never been so happy to have to use a tool to install something. It makes me look forward to having to wake up and take a shower in the morning now.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Pathetic

That's what papparazzi should be feeling like right now. They crowded around Michelle Williams as she was trying to get into her house with her two year old in tow after Heath Ledgers death. Leave the woman alone. Let them mourn in peace. Let her figure out how she's going to explain to her daughter why daddy isn't going to be there anymore. Quit asking how she's feeling. How would you feel if the father of your child just died unexpectedly and it was all over the news that it's drug related before that's been proven? It's amazing what lengths these bottom feeders will go to to spin a story. Let her mourn and let her do it privately.